the baked brownie... need i say more...

listen... i could go into a huge schpeeal (is that how you spell it?) about why i made these, and i could write a paragraph or two describing their awesomeness... but i certainly will not... all i am going to say is... holy cow... i am in brownie heaven... and if you're a brownie or choco-holic you must stop what you are doing and make these... NOW... GO... stop reading... preheat your oven and mix up the batter... GO! NOW!!

the Baked Brownie
From Baked: New Frontiers in Baking
ingredients:
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

directions:
1. preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. butter the sides and bottom of a 9x13 baking pan (i didn't have one on hand, so my brownies were a little thicker)
3. in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa
4. put the chocolate, butter, and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth
5. turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan, and allow mixture to come to room temperature
6. add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and mix until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined.
7. add the vanilla and stir until combined, do not overbeat the batter at this stage or brownies will be cakey
8. sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture and using a spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible
9. pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top
10. bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through, until toothpick inserted comes out clean
11. let the brownies cool completely, then cut them into squares
12. enjoy and savour each bite of heaven... :)

happy happy baking everyone!!